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There is probably no place in Germany that is more German than Bavaria, especially eastern Bavaria. The state on the country’s southern border is steeped in tradition and is proud to preserve those traditions and share them with visitors. Here are five places and events that everyone should see if they want to truly experience this corner of Bavaria:

Visit Regensberg, the medieval city

Five things not to miss in eastern BavariaBack to video

Regensburg is on the Danube, making it a popular stop for river cruises.Mark Stachiew

Barely touched by the ravages of the the Second World War, the Bavarian city of Regensberg on the Danube River has been able to preserve more than 1,500 historic buildings, many of them from medieval times, but some going much further back in history, including remnants of a second-century Roman fort from the time it was known as Castra Regina. With so much history concentrated in one place it’s no wonder that the old city of Regensburg was named a UNESCO World Heritage Site. A highlight that shouldn’t be missed is St. Peter’s Cathedral, a masterpiece of German Gothic architecture whose twin spires tower over the old city.

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Thrill to the story of George and the Dragon in Furth im Wald

The dragon used in Furth im Wald’s staging of the story of George and the Dragon is the world’s largest robot.Mark Stachiew

For 500 years, the tiny Bavarian town of Furth Im Wald has staged an annual performance of the story of St. George slaying the dragon that has grown from a humble religious procession into a spectacular event that today features the world’s largest walking robot that plays the part of the dragon. The town has only 9,000 residents, but as many as 1,400 of them take part in the dazzling St. George performance, along with 200 horses. Furth im Wald certainly plays up its dragon connections with winged serpents visible in all sorts of signs and every other shop or restaurant seemingly having drachen in its name. It’s no wonder that the town is also known as Drachenstadt, the City Of Dragons.

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Skip Oktoberfest in favour of the Straubing volksfestival

Straubing’s Volksfestival is a Bavarian tradition, very much like Munich’s Oktoberfest, but on a slightly smaller scale. [Photo by Mark Stachiew]Mark Stachiew

The fame of Munich’s Oktoberfest has brought with it more and more visitors every year, but you can enjoy the same beer-hall experience without the tourist crowds at

. Just because Straubing’s festival is second in size to Munich’s, don’t think that it’s second rate. While Munich’s famous celebration brings in six million visitors over 17 days, Straubing’s Gäubodenvolksfest manages to attract as many as 1.4 million during its 11-day run in early August. That’s an impressive feat for a city with a population of only 45,000.

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Ride the glass road

Bavaria is well known for the craftsman who work in glass.Mark Stachiew

An incredible concentration of glassware manufacturers and artists can be found in the region of eastern Bavaria, earning it the nickname of the glass road. It’s the legacy of a centuries-old tradition of working with glass that has made the German state one of the world’s premier suppliers of fine glassware. One of the showrooms you can visit includes the JOSKA Glasparadeis in Bodenmais where you can not only shop for glass knick-knacks and see artisans in action, but can also try your hand at glass blowing.

Go forest bathing in the Bavarian Forest National Park

Bavaria isn’t all about churches and cathedrals. It’s also home to one of Germany’s largest national park.Mark Stachiew

Germans are famous for their love of nature, but you may be surprised to learn that the country created its first national park as recently as 1970, the Bavarian Forest National Park. Connected to a park across the border in the Czech Republic, the Bavarian Forest is part of the largest contiguous area of forest remaining in Central Europe. Visitors can hike the trails and breathe in the beauty of the natural landscape. Spotting wildlife in the park can be difficult, but there are animal enclosures where you can admire some of the most important species that are found there.

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